Building construction



l. P. WALKER.

BUILDING CONSTRUCTION.

l APPLICATION FIEED NOV. I9, 191B'. 1,396,543. Patentefslngv. 8, 1921.

ATTO R N EY I. P. WALKER.

- BUILDING CONSTRUCTION. APPLlcATloN HLED Nov.19. 191B.

Patented Nov. 8, .1921.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

A wm.

INVEN-rcmj WITNES'SES ATTOR N EY UNITED STATES ISHAM P. WALKER, OIE TYLER, TEXAS.

BUILDING CONSTRUCTION,

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 8, 1921.

Application filed November 19, 1918. Serial No. 263,148.

To @ZZ 107mm t may concern Be it known that l, ISHAM P. WALKER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Tyler, in the county of Smith and State of Texas, have invented a new and useful Building Construction, of which the following is a specification.

This invention has reference to building construction, and its object is to improve and cheapen the construction of buildings and facilitate the erection thereof.

ln yaccordance with the invention, the framework of the building is erected upon a suitable foundation and then interlocking slabs or tiles are secured to the framework to form an outer covering or sheathing for the building. The slabs or tiles may have their outer faces simulate brick or stone, or other material ordinarly used in building construction, and where the slabs join the interlocking arrangement is such as to shed water so that no water is admitted at the joints to the interior of the building, even though cementing material be omitted at the joints.

The invention also includes a joint construction for window and door frames and the like` whereby such fraines are held in place without other fastening means than the slabs or tiles forming the outer sheathing of the building. Provision is also made for fastening the slabs or tiles to the framework in a manner permit-ting the rapid assembly of parts, whereby the rapidity of erection of t-he building may be greatly increased, permitting` buildings constructed in accordance with the invention to be completed in but a fraction of the time needed for the erection of buildings employing brick or stone for the purpose.

The invention will be best understood from a consideration of the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings forming part of this specification, with the understanding, however, that the invention is not confined to anj.v strict conformity with the showing of the drawings but may be changed and modified so long as suoli changes and modifications mark no material departure from the salient features of the invention as expressed in the appended claims.

In the drawings Figure l is a perspective view of a small portion of a building constructed in accordance with the invention, certain parts of the exterior walls being omitted to disclose the framework.

Fig. 2 is a section on the line 2 2 of Fig. l, but drawn on a larger scale.

Fig. 3 is a section on the line 3 3 of Fig. y

Fig. 4 is a section on the line 4 4 of Fig. l.

Fig. 5 is a rear face view of the framework at a window opening, such as seen in Fig. l.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a portion of a. window frame and adjacent slabs or tiles, with the parts separated to better show the construction.

Fig. 7 is a perspective view, as seen from the rear, of one of the slabs or tiles adjacent to a window or door frame.

Fig. 8 is a top plan view of the window frame and cap plate or water table thereon.

Fig. 9 is a top plan view of the sill beneath the window frame.

Referring to the drawings, there is shown a base or foundation l which may be made of concrete or any other suitable material, and extending lengthwise of the upper surface of the base is a rib 2 having an upright shoulder 3 on the side toward the interior of the building and an inclined face fi on the side toward the exterior of the building (Fig. 3).

Erected on the foundation is a frame work consisting of corner posts G. studding 7, battens or strips 8 connecting the corner posts, and studding` braces 9, of which only two are shown in Fig. l but it is to be understood that the braces are used wherever necessary.

The foundation 1 and the framework erected thereon constitute a support for an exterior wall or sheathing made up of slabs or tiles ll, l2. 13, lll, l57 1G, 17. and i8 differing in size or some other characteristic but all having common characteristics. The various forms of slabs or tilesD are only those indicated in a building constructed in accordance with the showing of Fig. l. Other buildings may need certain changes in the forms of the slabs or tiles but those characteristics which are common to the different slabs illustrated in Fig. l will still be common to said other forms necessitated by variations in the shape of the building.

The slabs 11 and 12 are of generally rectangular form with the slabs l2 half the length of the slabs ll and both maybe of the same height. The size of the slabs represent in face area a group of several ordinary bricks or a building stone and may be readily molded into shape from concrete or the like with the exposed face having markings 19 thereon, shown in the drawings as outlining` ordinary brick. The slabs or tiles 11 and 12 differ from each other in that the slabs 11 may be twice the length of the slabs 12 in order that, inthe finished building, the joints may be properly broken. Most of theslabs, however, willebe long slabs like the slabs 11 and certain of the slabs, especially those adjacent to openings in the wall and at corners, have special formations as will hereinafterl appear. Y

Each slab is provided at the bottom edge with a longitudinal groove 2O and at the top with a longitudinal rib or tongue 21, the rib 21 having the same shape as the rib 2 on the foundation and the grooves 2O being shaped to snugly receive the ribs or tongues 21. At one end of each block 11 or 12 is an upright groove 22 and at the other end of the block is an upright rib or tongue 23 shaped to snugly fit into vthe groove 22. The upright grooves 22 and corresponding ribs 23 differ from the grooves and tongues on the tops and bottoms of the blocks in that, while of triangular cross section, the fiatwall or shoulder and the inclined face or shoulder are oppositely disposed from the arrangement of the ribs 2, that is, there is a flat shoulder 3a toward the outer face of the wall and an inclined shoulder la toward the innner face ofthe wall (F ig. 2).

4The tongues and grooves at the tops and bottoms of the blocks are horizontal in the finished walls while those at the ends of the blocks are upright. In the completed building there is a liability of water, in case of storms, finding its way to the tongues and grooves and in such event the water will simply flow down the inclined walls of the tongues toward the exterior of the wall of the building, but in the upright tongues at the ends of the blocks the water will simply flow lengthwise of the tongues until it reaches the bottom of a block w ere the inclined wall of the tongue will direct the water outwardly. At the same time the opposite inclination of the tongues Vand grooves at the top and bottom of a block and at the ends of the block tends to improve the interlocking of the blocks together. y

Each slab or tile wherever located and however constructed is formed on the inner face at theupper edge with an ear or ears 24, the longer slabs having an ear near each end and the shorter slabs having an ear near the middle, although such disposition of the ears is not obligatory. Each ear, which projects laterally from the inner face of the respective slab, has a perforation 25 andthe earis'of such length in a direction away from the block that it will override and rest upon a respective one of the battens 8 which are sor spaced apart in the direction of the height of the building as to sustain some of the weight of the slab when applied to the hatten. Each perforation 25 in an ear 211 is traversed by a nail or pin 26 entering the corresponding hatten 8 being either driven into the hatten during the construction of the building'or enteringv a socket or passage formed in the batteri for the purpose. An ordinary wire nail of suitable size answers very well for the pin 26.

In constructing the building, the foundation is first laid and allowed to harden. Such foundation, if made of concrete, is readily formed by vfirst building a suitable mold, as is customary in the formation of foundations from plastic material. Of course the foundation might be made of bricks or other building material but the use of concrete molded into shape during the process of building is advantageous.

After the foundation is finished and set and the molds removed.,` the framework is constructed in a manner familiar to carpenters, and hence needs no particular description.

After the framework is up the lowermost course of slabs is laid with the ears 24 resting on the lowermost series of battens all of which support the slabs through the ears to some extent. The bottoms of the slabs also rest upon'the foundation 1 with the bottom grooves 20 receiving the ribs or tongues 2 and the meeting ends of the slabs having the Vupright ribs 23 entering the grooves 22. rl`he various slabs of the lowermost course are therefore locked together and to the foundationand held to the framework `by the ears 24 resting on the ba-ttens 8 and secured thereto by the pins 26. The succeeding` courses are laid in the same manner as brick or stonework, and, while cement may be employed Aat the meeting edges of the slabs, such material is not necessary, especially where the structure is properly built. Care, however, is taken to break joints after the manner of ordinary brick and stonework, and in Fig. 1,such joints are lShown by relatively heavy lines 27. These lines do not prominently appear in the finished building but are shown exaggerated in' Fig. v1 to make it appear where the joints may occur.

Of course a building is assumed to have suitable openings, and lcorners necessarily occur at different points. 'Such openings or corners necessitate some modifications in the forms of the slabs or tiles makingup the outer wall of the building. y

In Fig. 1, there is shown a window opening 28 this opening `also appearing in some others of the figures. The opening 28 contains a window frame 29 which, in the main,

may correspond to ordinary Window frames With side members 30, a top 31 and a sill 32.

The invention contemplates the use of another sill 33 and a cap or Water table 34, both of which as Well as the adjacent edges of the slabs or tiles are shaped to fit and interlock.

The Window frame may, as is customary, be made of Wood and may follow the usual practice in this construction. The top 3l of the Window frame'is formed with a tongue 35, of triangular or similar cross section, fitting in a groove 36 in the underface of the water table 34 and the Water table is provided with a4 longitudinal tongue 37 on its upper face to enter the bottom groove of a slab or slabs extending across the top of the Window opening. The cap or Water table is longer than the Width of the Window frame and the corresponding slab or tile 18a has a corner notch or recess 38 suitably shaped to receive the overhang of the Water table 34. The recess 38 is provided with a tongue 39 and the overhang of the Water table has a groove 40 in the overhang portion to receive the tongue 39, thereby interlocking the Water table and the adjacent sla-b 18;L at each end of the Water table and side of the Window opening.

The sill 33 Where underriding the Window frame sill 32 is provided with a tongue 4l entering a corresponding groove 42 in the bottom of the sill 32. The ends of the sill 33 project beyond the sides of the Window frame, entering a suitable recess 43 in the adjacent slab 18. The recess 43 has a tri` angular or other suitably shaped upright groove 44 therein and the sill 33 is provided With a triangular or similarly shaped tongue 45 to enter the groove 43 when the projecting end of the sill is lodged in the recess 43.

Each tile or slab 17, 18 and 18?L at the end bordering the opening 28 has a laterally extended offset 46 forming a facing of suitable depth for the opening 28 so that t-he Window frame may be inset with relation to the outer Wall of the building, thus producing an appropriate finish. The inner edge of the offset 46 has an upright groove 47 formed therein to receive an upright tongue 48 on the corresponding side member of the Window frame and of undercut or dovetail cross section, whereby the tongue 48 when seated in the groove 4T serves to lock the Window frame in place in the Wall at the sides of the Window frame While the cap or Water table 34 and sill 33 serve to lock the top and bottom of the Window frame in the Window opening. The sill 33 is provided on the bottom edge With a groove 49 to receive the tongue 21 of the slab or slabs immediately beneath the sill 33.

If the Window frame be of the box type the tongues 48 are made fast to the outside of the boxing instead of directly to the sides of the Window, as shown in the drawings, otherwise the structure may be as illustrated. In the case of door frames, the structure may be similar to that shown with respect to Window frames, except that the sill 32 is not used.

Where corners are present, the slabs or tiles 13 to 1G are of similar construction to the slabs 11 and 12, except that the meeting edges are beveled as indicated at 50 in Figs. 1 and 2, and the beveled edge of one of the meeting corner blocks is provided with an yupright tongue and the other block With an upright groove to receive the tongue, the same as the upright meeting edges of other 80 blocks. The grooves and tongues of the beveled edges of the corner blocks are indicated in F ig. 2 at 22a and 23 respectively, otherwise the corner blocks may be of the same construction as the blocks 11 and 12.

In Figs. l and 2 the corner blocks are of al form in which the corner is a right angle projecting corner. In the case of a right angle or other inset corner the bevel will be the reverse of that shown in Figs. l and 2 and the bevel Will correspond to the angle to be produced. It will be understood that the bevels of the corner blocks will correspond to the angle to be produced in each instance, and the same general construction may apply to curved or other shaped blocks for building Walls of like conformation.

The invention is not confined to any particular size or shape of slab or tile for the siding, or to the imitation of brick or stone, since for some purposes the sla-bs may be perfectly plain on the exterior. A convenient size for handling and for rapid building may be about twenty-four inches long and twelve inches wide and one and one-half inches thick, but these particular dimensions are by no means obligatory. The smaller slabs agree in dimensions With the larger slabs except that they may be twelve inches square and one and one-half inches thick.

The cap plate or Water table .may be cast in one piece or may be made up of two or more pieces.

That is claimed is 1. In building construction, a foundation 115 having a rib or tongue on its upper surface extending about the foundation, said rib or tongue being right triangular in cross section and having a vertical Wall facing inwardly with respect to the building and a 120 slanting wall facing outwardly, and a series of slabs laid in courses, each slab having means for interlocking with adjacent slabs on all edges, said means comprising a groove on its lower edge and along one side edge, 125 and a tongue or rib on its upper edge and along the other side edge, the grooves being designed to receive the tongues or ribs and the latter being shaped similarly to the tongue 0r rib on the foundation, the founda- 130 -provided with respective tion rib interlocking with the lowermost `course of slabs and all theribs-and grooves 'extending intermediate the outer and inner faces'of the slabs, the tongues on the upper Y edges of the slabs having their vertical walls outer faces slanting and their inner faces vertical, and the tongues on the side edges having t-he outer faces parallel to the face of the wall and the inner faces at an angle to the wall, all of the tongues and grooves extending throughout the length of the edge on whichrthey are provided and intermediate the-outer and inner faces of the slabs.

3. In buildingconstruction, a slab or tile constituting an element of the outer wall of the building, said slab having its upper edge provided with a longitudinal tongue, said tongue having its rear face upright and its front face slanting downwardly and forwardly Vfrom said upright rear face, and the bottom edge of the slab having a-longitudinal groove with its rear wall upright and its front wall slanting forwardly and'downwardly from the upright rear wall, whereby the matching upper and lower edges of adjacent slabs prevent outward Inovement of said slabs, each slab having its side edges tongues and grooves where meeting other slabs so as vto `lock with said slabs against movementI inwardly, all of said tongues and grooves eX- tending continuously for the length of the edge von which they are provided.

4.- In building construction, a slab or tile constituting an element of the outer wall of the building, said slab having its upper edge provided witha longitudinal tongue with the rear face of the tongue upright and the front face thereof slanting downwardly and forwardly from said `upright rear face, the bottom edge of the slab having a longitudinal groove with its rear wall upright and its front wall slanting forwardly and downwardly from said uprightrear wall, the side edges of the slab, having respective tongues and grooves where meeting otherl slabs of like construction, and integral projecting means on the rear face of the slab adjacent the upper edge thereof and intermediate `the ends for securing the slab to a support.

with those slabs adjacent it, and the tiles or slabs adjacent the frame having offsets interlocking therewith.

6. In building construction, a framework provided with an opening, a frame adapted to the opening, a water-table vcap plate on top `of the frame in the opening, and interlocking tiles or slabs constituting the outer wall of the building, certain of said slabs having recessesfor receiving the ends of the cap plate, and the cap plate, frame and slabs being of interlocking tongue and groove construction.

7. In building construction, a framework provided with an opening, a frame adapted to the opening, a water-table cap plate on top of the frame in the opening, and interlocking tiles or slabs constituting the outer wall of the building, certain of said slabs .having recesses for receiving the ends of the cap plate, and the 'cap plate, frame and slabs being of interlocking tongue and groove construction, those slabs or tiles at the sides of the opening having the edges adjacent thereto provided with inward continuations or oifsets to inset the frame in the opening.

8. In building construction, a framework having a window opening therein,a window frame lodged in the opening, a cap plate and sill for the window frame each projecting beyond the side edges of the window'fraine,

and slabs or tilesconstituting elements of the .outer wall vof the building, the slabs having edge recesses to receive the ends of the `cap plate and sill, the slabs, cap plate and sill having interlocking tongues and grooves where meeting, and the slabs where adjacent to the window frame having angle extensions with said angle extensions and `the window frame provided with interlock-V ing tongues and grooves.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto aflixed my signature ISHAM P. IVALKER.

Witnesses:

R. W. SIMPSON, B. M. BELL. Y 

